Flyers’ OT hero Daniel Brière speaks to the media Sunday evening.
Len Redkoles, NHLI via Getty Images
Daniel Brière scored twice in overtime Sunday, once with a soccer kick that was disallowed, then with a seeing-eye slapper that did count, to carry the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. The win gives the Flyers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.
In Glendale, AZ, the amazing Phoenix Coyotes knocked off the Nashville Predators 5-3 to give the Yotes a 2-0 Western semi lead heading back to Music City for Game 3.
• Monday night: the Washington Capitals hope to even their series with the Rangers at 1-1 in New York, and Los Angeles would love to make it 2-0 over the Blues in St. Louis.
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(this is a type test. i’m just checking if i can type letters in this website. pls. ignore what i’m saying at this time. however, i do urge ppl here to read my post-season comments after the stanley cup final in over. ciao for now…..)
“McGuire was considered a bunch of time for Gm and that means he is a good candidate for the GM job and such…”
…… just say and ducking for cover.
Also be aware that there is some serious hardware now mounted on my roof and the U.N charter on right of self-defense permits me to launch a pre-emptive strike.
Maybe the good thing about interviewing McGuire is to find out what we don’t want
Love him or hate him, Briere is a clutch player… up there with the top active playoff performers. Not too many players out there who’ve played at least 100 playoff games and are a point a game player (the only other is Jagr.)
As for the whole debate on whether North Americans are better than Europeans come playoff time, it’s all BS…
I crunched some number regarding the top active players and here are some results, by points and games.
Jagr 188 / 176
Ovechkin: 55 / 45
Malkin 81 / 68
Zetterberg 102 / 109
Alfredsson 90 / 111
Saku Koivu 55 / 60 (underrated imo!)
Elias 120 / 146
H. Sedin 71 / 95
Hossa 97 / 130
Datsyuk 94 / 126
Selanne 79 / 111
Lidstrom 183 / 263
Then I tried to find the best comparison possible (skip Jagr because there is no fair comparison among active players for games over points):
St. Louis 68 / 63
Briere 106 / 104
Richards 68 / 71
Spezza 51 / 53
Staal 43/43
Iginla 49/54
Heatley 57 / 66
Crosby 57 / 68
Lecavalier 52 / 63
Thorton 87 / 114
Pronger 121 / 173
It’s worth noting that giving his rep, H. Sedin and Hossa have around the same point per game ratio as Thorton. So there!
Next, I decided to look at the PPG difference for each player regular season vs. playoffs. Here are some of the best:
Briere (no surprise!) : 0.79 / 1.02
St. Louis: 0.92 / 1.08
Koivu (a big F U to all the haters!): 0.77 / 0.92
Staal: 0.89 / 1.00
Pronger: 0.60 / 0.70
And here are some of the worst:
Crosby (bet you didn’t see that one!): 1.40 / 0.84
Selanne: 1.05 / 0.71
Datsyuk: 0.98 / 0.75
Thorton: 1.00 / 0.76
Hossa: 0.92 / 0.75
Whitney 0.82 / 0.55
Gomez: 0.76 / 0.50
The first two are attributed to awesome regular season stats. It is a known fact that Datsyuk become more defensive during the playoffs. The rest you can chalk up as overrated and underachievers.
I’ll save my spreadsheet as reference in case anyone wants more info.
“There’s genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it’s like popcorn in the pan. Some pop… some don’t.”
- Jerry Maguire
Good stuff Cardiac. Lots of work and much appreciated.
“May you live in interesting times.”
P.S. Glad I wasn’t reading Habsinsideout when people would be derogatory towards Saku. Seriously???
P.P.S. Vaguely recall a saying, “Haters gonna find something to be upset about,” or something like that. Will wait for one of the elite to remove any counterfactuality.
So it appears Wayne Gretzky’s daughter is enjoying Las Vegas this past weekend and her pics hit the internet.
http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/paulina_gretzky_partying_in_vegas_this_weekend_via_photos_crotch_shot_alert/10680695?linksrc=home_rg_head_10680695
Ahh the Paris Hilton way to celebrity, when can we expect the sex tape?
I haven’t even clicked on the link yet, but I bet this is gonna be good.
HF72, can you now start up a list of HIO bourgeoisie?
“May you live in interesting times.”
I don’t know about our bourgeoisie, but our aristocrats are:
* Shiram – because he knows poutine suits every occasion/
* Bugz – because he is unafraid to pursue his eccentricities with style, if not good sense.
* Mike Boone – because, like that monarch who mingled among his subjects disguised as a beggar, he reads every idiotic post but refrains from intervening. Noblesse oblige.
* HardHabits: because, like Sebastian in Brideshead Revisited, he wants to be first or last but nothing in between.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Will wait for your future instalments, otherwise there WILL be a palace revolt. Does LL. Bugs even come on any more?
“May you live in interesting times.”
There is no Bourgeoisie and Proletariat at HIO. There is a Glorieuxgoisie and Prohabariat though.
Now that is good!
This has been floating around for years, but in case you missed it…..The Molson beaver
http://dennis-kane.com/molson-beaver/
Dennis-Kane.com
You know, having to look at Briere’s smarmy face all day is akin to suffering the numerous pics on this site of Price being scored on by the Bruins – please have a little mercy.
At least there is a new poll question you can vote on!
Damn you Burly!! Damn you to Toronto!!!
No I refuse to live in Toronto, please don’t do that to me. People here in Burlington, like to point out we are in between Hamilton and Toronto. We have our own city hall and everything!!!!
Hehehe that’s what you get for making me check the poll question thing.
You better hurry up and vote, it is my understanding that once they receive 150,000 votes they will be putting up a new question. Almost there!
Think for the betterment of everyone here we need a GM announcement soon. Something to distract us from killing each other on this site.
Ha
You think that will stop the carnage?
When the new GM is announced it will take about a minute and a half before someone tears into him. Especially if it’s McGuire!
———————————————————————-
“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
5 secs if it’s McGuire. Many defections, too. I don’t think Molson and Savard are so stupid as to hire him, but you never know.
But, but, he knows, like, every, I mean EVERY players in the NHL plus their EVERY prospects….
Could it be that he gets that info from his earpiece? Those guys are always plugged in.
Nah he really is a freak of nature…
If Molson hires McGuire it would be just like when the Expos left for me. I won’t instantly adopt another team as my favourite, but I won’t have a team in the league to cheer for either.
“I’m not opposed to trading Plekanec and/or Markov”
- Sean Bonjovi
No question about that. And it will most likely be me.
I’m positive Molson and Savard will not, I repeat, not hire McGuire!
I would seriously think about not watching any Habs games till he’s gone. If he happens to get us the cup, I’ll be among the first to say I was wrong. I doubt that will happen.
———————————————————————-
“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
You’re just lucky Bripro is not here to mention how McGuire was considered a bunch of time for Gm and that means he is a good candidate for the GM job and such…
I’d give McGuire the benefit of the doubt, but he’s one of my least favorite choice for GM.
@Shiram, Bri is going to check in later today and have a serious headache.
I hope they hire him. All that will be left here are a few smart people and I.
Before anyone freaks out, I’m kidding. Not that I hope they hire him, just about those not wanting them to not being smart.
But I suppose the Habs are idiots for considering him as a very serious candidate (if we are to believe the rumours).
Go Habs Go!!
“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock
I’d like to say that our (soon to be) new GM is too French and doesn’t properly represent the English speaking fan base.
A couple of days late but in the style/sartorial view of some of today’s posts…
Hal Gill’s mohawk… http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/27/preds-will-get-hal-gill-back-tonight-in-phoenix/
He has more hair on his chin than on his head
Jack Adams : Torts, Hitchcock and Maclean.
Tough choice between Hitch and MacLean IMO… both did some pretty amazing things for their clubs.
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
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Yup, my vote would go for Hitch.
Why isn’t Jacques Martin on this list?
I am with you on Hitch Shiram. While Maclean did a great job in Ottawa, Hitch took that team to the top with very little change in players from previous year. (Yes they added Elliot, and Perron came back from injury)
None of which would make the cut for the Habs HC job!
Pathetique!!!
My pick would be Hitch. But People are definitely underestimating what Torts did this year. He’s got that team playing a complete team first game all season long. It’s no fluke they finished first in the east and how many predicted that. That team has completely bought in. They’re my pick outta the east and have been when the playoffs started.
Not many people picked the Rangers to win the East, but how many picked Ottawa to finish 14th or 15th?
I don’t disagree at all. I do feel though Torts should get a little more recognition. Look who the Sens had to pass to get where they were in the standings. AND they did do a great job, especially Karlsson. But the ranger WON the east. Better than Philly (who they owned), Pit, NJ, Bos…
Shoutouts to Jordan Eberle, last second goal, Matt Hackett, who’s on Canada’s team probably because Price is hurt and 25 year old Marc Edouard Vlasic of the Sharks (probably why they don’t miss Josh Gorges).
“May you live in interesting times.”
The Habs I/O elite – who are they?
* They support the Nashville Predators in the current Stanley Cup playoffs.
* They like to make fun of every post that has the word “Konopka” in it.
* They call Mike Boone “Boone” or ” Hey Boone”.
* They do not have an opinion on the next GM.
* They did not like the previous GM, who they call “PG”.
* They tut-tut Don Cherry’s every utterance but watch every segment of coaches corner.
* They find mention of Jaroslav Halak unbearably tedious.
* They never really understood HardHabit’s complex and always-shifting views on the subject of Tanking.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Aggh and here I thought I finally found a place to belong to.
Ahem. I prefer to see it as ever evolving. And I am still anti-authoritarian. Unless of course I am the authority.
I’m not elite! I’m not elite!
Wow, if they watch Coach’s Corner, they’re probably suffering from brain damage. Definitely not “elite.”
Mark me down for 1, 3, and 7, with a dash of 8.
———————–
GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is probably not our year!
“Scott Gomez is an elite NHL player” – VancouverHab
Chat with me on Twitter @TheRealRGM81
i thought the elite called him booner
*Not cheering for Nashville
*Would have liked it if we signed Konopka but am also willing to poke fun at the great Zenon.
* I have called him Boone, Mr. Boone and may have said Hey Boone.
*Not sure if I have an opinion whether or not I have an opinion on the next GM, but do have a very strong opinion on who shouldn’t be the next GM (Pierre McGuire )
*Didn’t like PG
*Disagree with Cherry most nights, but sometimes agree.
*Do not understand the fixation people continue to have with Halak
*Never understood how people couldn’t see HH just loves to stir the pot, and once in a blue moon he and I agree.
Okay, so where do I fit in HF72?
If they couldn’t understand HH’s views on tanking, then I’m not sure they get to be elite. It was a simple concept, really.
Version 3, draft 2, edited once, that one was simple, the rest got far more complex
Wait, there was a second draft of version 3?
***Subbang Baby!!!***
The only sort of pair Briere’s ever had.
Hitchcock may switch up the lines for tonights game, but aside from potential absence of Pietrangelo appears no other lineup changes, ie. no D’ags or Halak.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/hitchcock-tinkers-with-his-offense/article_8d5b8a77-e46c-5fa7-96df-fb79ca0c7fc9.html
LOL, so no sooner to I post about the Dutchman and Frenchman playing for Bayern Munich and I read this morning the two of them had a fight after their semi-final win in Champions League….
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1058373/arjen-robben's-bayern-future-in-doubt-following-bust-up?cc=5901
Betcha they’re better at hockey shootouts than some of our guys!
“May you live in interesting times.”
I dunno about the rest of you, but I don’t want to know anything at all about Biere’s pair. Blech.
habfan72….did you know that Winnepeg drafted Doan with the trade pick MTL gave them in the Stephan Qunitel trade. Imagine we had kept that pick, and had drafted Doan. Seems to me he is one loyal player to his team! And a good one too. Sure he is nearing end of his career now, but man Habs could still have him in our line up. While Quintel walked away as a UFA!
Doan was a first round pick.
Quintal was traded for a 1995 second rounder. The pick was Jason Doig.
The story at the time was that Doan was coveted by the Habs with their pick, but drafted by the Jets two picks before us. We ended up drafting Terry Ryan (ugh.)
http://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/DraftTrades/Years/1995.htm
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
http://lastwordonsports.com/category/lastwordblog/nhldraft/
Ah yes Terry Ryan. We picked him 3 spots ahead of Jarome Iginla.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Please stop salting the wounds! You may get slapdowns about “woulda, coulda” thinking, but these players were destined to be NHLers and some of them stars. It’s worth analyzing how we missed on them or we could be resigned and cheer for whatever group of players are on the Habs, stars or not.
“May you live in interesting times.”
To be clear, I wasn’t thinking of Ryan when I used the word “stars.”
“May you live in interesting times.”
So we pick 3rd. All you GM’s out there, please tell us who this years crop of stars are going to be so we won’t have to go back and wonder why we didn’t pick him.
are you sure commandant…..wierd I have heard over the years they picked him from our pick we sent him. Oh well…hate when ppl give me wrong info lol!
I gave you the link.
Great site here (and not mine)
http://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/DraftTrades/Years/1995.htm
You can look up any draft pick and what it was traded for. Thats the 1995 draft i’m linking you too, but you can navigate the site for other picks.
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
http://lastwordonsports.com/category/lastwordblog/nhldraft/
P.K.Subban
“May you live in interesting times.”
It’s red, but it does not link.
sorry, struggling with it and will get it right soon
“May you live in interesting times.”
link is working now
It is a darn trick post….
Mike Smith. 30 years old. 6’4″ 218 lbs. (that was 500 saves ago). Free agent signing just this season for 2 mill. Had just completed 3 seasons in Tampa Bay. Julien Brisebois and Steve Yzerman manage things in Tampa Bay. Guy Boucher coached Smith for one season. How’s the goaltending situation in Tampa Bay and why is there speculation they may acquire 7 million dollar man Roberto Luongo?
Makes me less grumpy about Michael Ryder and friends being cast aside by the Habs for nothing.
“May you live in interesting times.”
The grass is always greener.
———————–
GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is probably not our year!
“Scott Gomez is an elite NHL player” – VancouverHab
Chat with me on Twitter @TheRealRGM81
I like green grass! But it’s just analyzing how key players arrived at their highly valuable status on their particular team. Phoenix would have been out of contention a while ago without Smith’s contributions. Not too counterfactual I hope.
“May you live in interesting times.”
I hate grass …had to mow yesterday !!!! yes yesterday ..last time I checked it was still April .
Briere …my first thought is making millions and doesn’t know how to wear a hat !!!
At the risk of re-opening the can of worms as it relates to hockey will in relation to where you are born.
I think it is fair to say that Canadian born players who have grown up with watching NHL and specifically NHL Playoff hockey, understand that in order to become a Cup Champion you win with great sacrifice.
However, this does not give Canadian born players exclusivity or entitlement as to being the only ones who can do this.
Clearly some kids grow up in other countries and love hockey with complete passion. Due to where they grew up, they may not know much about NHL hockey and more specifically they may not be aware of the fact that in the NHL come playoff time rulebooks become something of a farce.
But…. it doesn’t take long for these players to quickly learn how the NHL playoffs work.
Reality is, there are players in the league born in Canada, US, Russia and elsewhere who have figured out how to become clutch playoff players, just as there are players from the identical countries who have not figured it out.
Watching the Champions League Semi’s recently who would have believed 40 years ago that a Dutchman and a Frenchman would be starring for Bayern Munich and giving it their all for a German Club team! Just the same in Hockey, it is up the individual to achieve greatness, their place of birth matters not.
Agreed.
The only thing I’ll add to that, is we are in the second generation of hockey players from Europe (third depending on some countries).
A generation of Czechs have entered, or are entering the league dreaming about scoring beauty goals like Jaromir Jagr did in the Cup final vs Chicago.
A generation of Russians who grew up watching Pavel Bure try to lead the Canucks to the 1994 Cup.
A generation of Swedes who watched Nick Lidstrom win Conn Smythe trophies and Stanley Cups. And their parents watched Mats Naslund in Montreal.
A generation of Finns who idolized 5 time Cup Winner Jari Kurri, and now idolize Teemu Selanne.
And with each subsequent generation they become more and more indoctrinated in the importance of the Stanley Cup.
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
http://lastwordonsports.com/category/lastwordblog/nhldraft/
Things changed in the last 9 years.
3 of the last 4 Conn Smythe winners were not Canadian. Thomas Malkin and Zetterberg. 4 of the last 9 winners were not Canadian. Add Lindstrom in 2002.
That makes 2 Swedes, 1 Russian, and 1 American,
Some of these players are highly skilled all the time though, you dont see a european turn it up a notch come playoff time and perform beyond what they did in the regular season as much, like a la Claude Lemieux.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Claude Lemieux scord 786 pts in the NHL regular season.
Claude Lemieux had 39 goals for Colorado in 95-96.
Regular season PPG = 0.647
Playoffs PPG = 0.622
The myth that Claude Lemieux was some 3rd liner scrub in the regular season, who turned it on in the playoffs is just that a myth.
The guy was a good hockey player all the time, not just in the playoffs.
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
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I watched Claude Lemieux with my own eyes. He had the rep of turning it up a notch come playoff time and its a well warranted reputation IMO.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
I watched Claude too.
To say that the Euros are skilled all the time, and Claude turned it on come playoff time, is simply another bigotted statement.
Im sorry but I dont believe you did, well you might have, but doing so while being under 5 years old doesnt really count. C.Lemieux’s playoff play could not be described as ‘par for the course’. Big goals in big games. The Sedins performed last year in the playoffs, meaning they got points, but most of those were with the man advantage, a few 5 on 3s even. At even strength they werent a factor. It aint just about points.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Great, now you assume my age and how long I’ve been watching hockey for.
I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything more though.
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
http://lastwordonsports.com/category/lastwordblog/nhldraft/
More Canadian kids grow up dreaming of winning the Stanley Cup than Russian kids. There. I’m a racist now according to the HIO elite!
You resent the elite don’t you?
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Lets define elite though, HIO ELITE: it means being present at HIO more than other people while submitting to the consensus opinion (which usually ends up to be proven wrong with time).
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Bozos on a web site spouting their opinions are “elite” ?
Either you are Bill O’Reilly or Rush Dimbulb. Which is it?
hmmmm for a post about racism and bigotry, you seem to have no problem making a sweeping generalization about my character.
It’s called “irony”.
What’s your source on this?
…and don’t say “It’s a commonly accepted/known/invented fact.”
—Hope Springs Eternal—
actually that statement he makes is probably true from pure simple numbers. The statement would be bad if it said, more canadian kids dream about being great hockey players than russians..
Every boy in Canada (almost) dreams of becoming a Stanley Cup Champion.
I am guessing kids in Russia grow up dreaming of winning a GOld medal for Russia, and there is nothing wrong with that. Then as they become more aware of the NHL the Stanley Cup enters the equation. The fact they grow up watching local hockey and watching their country win championships is the closest thing they can relate to at a young age.
“pure simple numbers” … 143 million v. 34 million
I guess what I meant is, all kids in general grow up in Canada thinking NHL hockey. I don’t think the same is true in Russia, I say this with limited knowledge.
Yes, Russia’s population is much bigger than Canada, but does every tv in Russia with rabbit ears get Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday Night?
sane hockey fan, you’re the poster who informed me that a low-brow fan threw a banana towards Kevin Weekes of the Panthers at the Bell Centre in 2002, and even provided the link to the CBC news story. It’s highly unlikely that you are racist. You may have left yourself open to being labelled with an observation that is really more about the subject of culture and youth aspirations. Example, more Russian men aspire to dance for the Bolshoi, or Kirov, than Canadian men. Equal numbers aspire to win Olympic gold in figure skating. Et cetera.
“May you live in interesting times.”
How do you know, did you take a survey?
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
‘the ghosts of the forum’ are still haunting the old Forum premises. They unanimously declined the invitation to move with the team and are hunkered down for good. They miss all the flags and banners too.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
So they prefer to haunt a shopping place and movie theater?
Someone has to go there…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Hate when movies are only shown there, it’s a crappy movie place, and pricy too.
Yep. Free movies and popcorn, among other perks.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Butch Bouchard has been down there for a couple weeks now, kicking their asses and forcing them to vacate the premises and head for the Bell Centre.
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
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Let’s hope that they follow his lead, the team needs all the help it can get.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Could they make Briere look anymore elfish than in the above pic? Makes me want to look for a rainbow or something.
Elf or not, he worked his magic yesterday.
Or watch the movie Elf, or Star Trek
Yeah, Brière’s looks like the Pillsbury Doughboy. But he’s a damn good hockey player. Over one hundred points in the playoffs, nearly half of them are goals.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
OK since I’ve become a Phoenix supporter I’d like to know:
1. Who’s with me?
2. Who are our best players? This Doan guy is he really a racist or was it all one big misunderstanding?
3. What do we call ourselves? Yotes? Any other cute nickname?
4. What is the greatest moment in our history? When were our glory years? Have we retired any numbers?
5. Phoenix: obesity capital of the world and second home of Frank Lloyd Wright. What else do I need to know?
6. If we win the cup, do we have a parade? I hear there are only interstates and shopping malls in the greater Phoenix conurbation.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Coyotes fan could be the Wile E’s.
Maybe the cup is the Roadrunner?
Phoenix has 17 canadians, St.Louis 16, LA has 15, and Nashville only 11…Its interesting you choose to support Phoenix.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Hawerchuck and Hull’s numbers were retired by that franchise.
Greatest time in history was when the team was back to back Avco cup Champions with Hull, Nilsson and Hedberg on top line.
Had some great teams in the 80′s but a certain team in Edmonton spoiled the fun, the Flames weren’t shabby then either.
I am with you, and Doan is not an idiot, that was made up sensationalism by journalist. My understanding, another player on the ice made a terrible comment and Doan took the heat for it.
I thought they unretired the old Jet numbers when they moved to Phoenix, or was that the Avalanche who did that?
Yes, that was unfortunate being in the same division as Edmonton and Calgary.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
I am pretty sure Hawerchuks number is hanging in Glendale, but too lazy to look up.
Brett Hull, Dale Hawerchuks, Thomas Steen and Greztki’s are retired in Glendale.
http://www.examiner.com/article/phoenix-coyotes-101-who-s-numbers-are-retired
Ahhh yes how did I forget about Thomas Steen. Great story there, he is now an elected city councillor in Wpg. I guess they retired Hull’s number because he was a great player, and they were desperate to give something to a player who actually played in Phoenix. Cannot understand the Gretzky banner…..
I am sure Shane Doan will be hanging in those rafters the day he retires.
Those are some harsh fans …
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Well the piece I linked is about retired numbers, so maybe they don’t have a banner for Gretzky.
I’m sure you know Gretzky’s number is retired for the whole League .
I’m still pulling for Nashville.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Yeah ditto
Boooooooo!
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Hal Gill with a mohawk is just too good not to cheer for.
1. Sorry, don’t care.
2. Mike Smith and Mike Smith- hence all those saves.
3. The Coys- but they weren’t being clear about that.
4. Arriving in Arizona with icepicks.
5. Les Emigres are the ringers the farmers keep bringing in.
6. No parade. Just a train ride in one of the malls and a free ticket to a Diamondback game.
Can we please put the Russians (and other Europeans) don’t perform in the playoffs myth to bed?
Some Russians are soft, some arent.
Some play well in the playoffs, some dont.
This is natural for hockey players from everywhere in the world, not just Europeans..
I’ll tell you what… You can choose two lineupe fo a playoff game (all players assumed to be in their prime).
Lineup 1: Datsyuk, Malkin, Ovechkin, Fedorov, Bure, Kovalev, Kozlov, Larionov, Konstantinov, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Hasek, Jagr, Elias, Fetisov, Kronwall, Selanne, Koivu, etc…
Lineup 2: Patrick Marleau, Pierre Turgeon, Adam Oates, Joe Thornton, Roberto Luongo, Alexander Daigle, Mike Green, Dany Heatley, Wade Redden, Mike Ribeiro, Bryan McCabe,
Just goes to show there are plenty of clutch Euros and plenty of choking Canadians. (and vice versa with both).
Where a player is born has no impact on his heart, talent, grit, or ability to play in the NHL. These are all individuals, and each individual should be judged on who they are, not on their countrymen that have come before them.
Just remember just because Neanderthals like Don Cherry perpetuate this myth, it doesn’t make it true.
Go Habs Go!
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I’ll take lineup 2 if you can tell me where to find the other Patrick Marleau ..:)
Adam Oates at the top of lineup 2. Otherwise, most of lineup 1.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
To say it isnt true is more political correctness than fact, those guys dont grow up watching it like canadians do, kids from different corners of the earth grow up with different dreams etc. Sure they like to win, but the sheer will isnt quite the same. just like the sheer will of a canadian born soccer player to win the Serie A championship isnt the same as an italian.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Might have been true in the early 90s when the kids coming over grew up in an era before dreaming about the NHL was a real possibility.
Its not true today, when we’ve had Russians in the league for over 20 years, and the generation of players entering the league today did grow up dreaming of the NHL.
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I hear you, and Im not saying they dont perform, just saying the sheer will to win the Cup is not as much as a canadian, and it never will be.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
I don’t buy that for one second.
Will to win is an individual trait and is not based on where someone is born.
There are plenty of Canadians listed above who lack that will to win as well.
I prefer to judge each player individually on what I see on the ice, not based on some preconceived notion of them because of where they were born.
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How about Americans?
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Of course Commandant, there will be russians that have more the will to win than some canadians, I am generalizing because I dont have the sheer will or time to go through each case one by one ^_^
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Thoughtless generalizing is what racism is all about.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
There is a word for generalizing and assigning negative character traits to a group of people based on their nationality.
Its called bigotry.
And thats exactly what happens every time Don Cherry spouts off about heartless europeans.
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How about Irish Canadiens do they go to the bar to much after games, what about Americans,Damn Swedes , all labels and stereotypical views have no place in society or Hockey.
A players heart and will should be judged by his effort on the ice , the game is filled with different type’s of role players of all kind, including goal scorers or players willing to slide in front of a Chara blast in a tie game during the season or play-offs.
Let us drop these old Cherryesque views for every Rene Bourque Their is an Alex Semin, Just like for every Claude Giroux there is a Pavel Datsyuk
Yeah Im saying they dont share the same will to win the cup, how racist!!!
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Glad you finally understand, Cat.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Wow.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Come on Cat, you can’t even support your own half baked theory.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Nice Photo. Who knew Briere was from The Shire!
what goes around comes around
He has some nice Vulcan ears happening in that photo
So imagine you live in London, England you come home from work one day and you see this installed on the roof of your house?
http://olympics.yardbarker.com/blog/olympics/uk_installing_rooftop_missiles_to_protect_london_games/10679723?linksrc=home_rg_head_10679723
Has a nice warm fuzzy look to it. Yikes.
Sad state of affairs where people either feel the need or need this type of protect tion. Very sad.
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God damnit! I open up HIO to enjoy with my morning coffee, and I have to choke back a mouthfull of vomit because an image of that pasty-faced puke is staring back at me.
I am not an animal, I just reproduce that way.
There should be no contest for the next general manager as the very best candidate is 46 year old MARC BERGEVIN. A 20 year playing career for several organizations, a leader, did some assistant coaching, amateur and pro scouting, director of player personnel, and a Stanley Cup ring.
He has everything needed and has proven that through his playing and management career. He also answers the sensitive political questions.
Please do NOT allow the next Habs GM to be Julien Brisebois, and how could he even be considered for the Habs job? If his name was John Brown how much would he be sponsored by a certain segment of the Quebec press?
Let’s get a few things straight and out of the way right away. With respect to these professions, today lawyers are a dime a dozen and MBAs are a dime a dozen.
To learn how to be a Capologist takes a 2 day course and half a brain with a calculator. The CBA rules are simple and clear. You have roster sizes-maximum contracts-cap floor and ceiling-rules for yearly increases and decreases in a long term contract-calculating cap on a daily basis-2 way contracts-bonuses-LTIR replacement effects on the daily cap calculation-filing dates.. These are all easily hired, but you can’t learn about a dressing room from a book. You can’t learn about feel from a book.
And how does a 35 year old LEAD men and women in a multi million dollar organization with no practical hockey experience? There is a reason why recently there have been just a few general managers that had that job in their 30s and Brisebois is no Stan Bowman with Scotty sitting on the right hand side. Over and above that, any 35 year old does not have enough experience and depth of life experiences and can be easily panicked and rattled. Just what we need in Montreal.
What has he ever done in the Habs organization above being a runner for Gainey and Gauthier? Now 2 years with Yzerman makes him the best man? Do you believe for 1 second that if he was such a shining star that Molson would have let him go in the first place only 2 years ago? Please for god’s sake.
Whatever you do Mr. Molson, find the BEST HOCKEY MAN-a mature hockey man that can lead people and make decisions. You surround him with other hockey men with complimentary experience and then go out and hire the dime a dozen lawyers, accountants, capologists, power skating experts, psychologists,skate sharpeners,pyramid power gurus…
What the Habs DON’T need right now is a non hockey experienced lawyer that doesn’t know how a dressing room works> that never was part of hiring a coach> that doesn’t know if a player is cheating or not because he never played> that doesn’t have enough long term solid contacts in the league that he can count on and trust for real information when making trades.
Pierre Mcguire? That’s like asking Dear Abby to run the New York Times.
In fairness, this same organization allowed Muller and Boucher to leave. The fact they were allowed to leave for higher positions doesn’t necessarily indicate they were incompetent people.
Having not ever hired a GM myself I find it difficult to know exactly who is the best candidate. I guess I am resigned to trusting Molson and Savard on this one.
Bergevin does seem to have a very good resume.
Regarding Muller and Boucher, teams never get in the way of a person moving up, and there is never a shortage of candidates for the Habs coaching job if it is done in the off season. Who knows, maybe 1 day they will be back.
I never mentioned that Brisebois was incompetent> just that he was the wrong person at the wrong time for the job along with a body of work unworthy concerning experience and leadership for the position of Habs general manager. The ones on RDS pushing for him were the same that would want a job from him. The others were part of the Rene Levesque gang.
Agreed on this one. Bergevin is also my choice. Good initial post on Brisebois vs Bergevin. The Gainey/Gauthier era is over and that mind set did not work. Brisebois having gone to that school would just be bringing a younger Gainey-Gauthier mentality.
Agreed. The Gainey/Gauthier thing is over and you would have to imagine Mr. Molson gets it and received a rude awakening. It’s 2012, not the 1980s or 1990s.
There is a product and a brand to protect. You never want a loud mouth such as Burke being the team’s poster boy, but there is something very nice in the middle of a Gauthier and a Burke. You have to communicate and respect your clientele without having them run the team.
Winning usually solves all, yet when that doesn’t happen, you still need to treat today’s consumers with respect and understanding. One day, Quebec City will have a team, and when choice presents itself, you had better be on the right side of those making the choice.
I have mention 6 week ago Bergevin will be the next GM and Gumper u right on as well Forsberg could very well be ours first rd pick ,no more Russians please
Regarding Russians, Dasyuk is the exception to the rule. Malkin only comes along once in a while and for a good period of time he was also a problem child. I’m with you!
I think I will put my faith in the interview process, concluding Serge Savard and Geoff Molson will find the man with the right vision, pro player procurement abilities, amateur and pro player evaluation, cap room management skills, along with professional level contacts throughout the League, North America and Europe to name a few skills required. I think the interviews, initial and follow ups will weed out any candidates not up to the tasks at hand.
That said I am no Pierre McGuire, or Julien Brisebois or Marc Bergevin etc… supporter. I support the Canadiens and have to believe Mr. Molson & Savard know how to conduct interviews to find the right man. I have my doubts about every candidate , but allot of the anti Mcguire sentiment stems from his on air persona, and that really should not come into play, so he is annoying, maybe if we heard Julien Brisebois or Marc Bergevin everyday we would have issues with their personas as well,
I will choose to let the hiring process and interviews and references take heed, and place my trust in our ownership group to pick the right man , whomever they choose we should have support for his plan.
ps Alex Galchenyuk is American born, in Milwaukee, Played amateur Hockey in Mid West before being first Pick in OHL draft ahead of Nail Yakupov
With you all the way. Bergevin was presented because he has all the talents required. The only things we don’t know are his personal character details and whether or not Mr. Molson would have a comfort level/chemistry working with him. Those are key at that level and the word Trust also comes to mind.
“find the BEST HOCKEY MAN-a mature hockey man that can lead people and make decisions. You surround him with other hockey men ”
That certainly sounds like the way to go.
(Would it be rude to point out that that is exactly what Gillett did with the results that we all know?)
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Was Gainey surrounded with the best people that complimented his style and knowledge? Was Gainey autocratic and were they just yes men? Gainey was a great player and won a cup in Dallas as manager, but we will never know how much his multiple personal tragedies affected his professional abilities and his decision making process while with the Habs. Last I looked, Gainey is also a human being like the rest of us. No one walking the earth could ever block out what he went through and be at 110% to perform the tough duties of the Habs job.
Thats a well thought out bunch of BS right there. Nice job getting one or two facts mixed in there with YOUR opinions of people you have never met.
Like what. Don’t be shy oh rude one. Or are you just a type of person that throws insults around and runs away?
Yotes staying in Glendale? Interesting when reading this report from AZCentral, Jerry Moyes before bankruptcy was asking the city for about 15million a year in help running the arena. Since then the city has been paying the NHL 25Million in subsidies per year, they are now looking at an agreement with potential new owner Jamison at again more than the amount Moyes was looking for.
What a mess in the desert!
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/2012/04/27/20120427glendale-phoenix-coyotes-deal-nears.html
Don’t care how good Briere is….DON”T WANT HIM!! Douche bag had a chance to be a Hab, turned it down to play for the Flyers! Need I say more!!?? Him and Vinnie can bite me.
I second that! I couldn’t stand him even when he was with Buffalo.
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“Can we lose the parade float?…..Thank you!”
-This Old House, GMC commerciall-
Yep. I think Vinnie desperately wanted to be a Hab, but “Danny” I’m such a sellout even my name isn’t good enough… Yeah, I loathe that guy.
Terry Jones from the Edmonton Sun just tweeted he saw PK in the lobby (hotel?) and he didn’t look good. Described as walking with limp and stiff legged. Oh boy!
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I hope it’s not serious. I was hoping that he was going to kill in this tournament and show people what his true potential is when he is allowed to Do His Thing.
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“Can we lose the parade float?…..Thank you!”
-This Old House, GMC commerciall-
Why do teams allow players to play in these meaningless tournaments anyway? Makes no sense.
It isn’t like anyone cares who wins.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
It’s not meaningless. It’s an international tournament. Just because North American fans don’t watch sport with an international perspective doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.
I’d wager that club games matter less world wide than they do in North America… heck, look at ‘football’. They friggin’ shut down their club seasons so players can play in international exhibitions.
It’s funny, people say Loungo hasn’t won anything… except he has the olympic gold medal, but we don’t attach the same value on that. It’s the absolute top level of competive hockey you can play, but somehow it ranks below a club league trophy where more than two thirds of the people on the winning team would never qualify for their olympic teams… odd.
Yes i get the WHC is not the Olympics, but my point is: Just because we like club games better then international doesn’t mean it’s worthless… but I suppose this is the internet and it’s easier to hate something instead of thinking about it from someone else’s perspective…
Let me put it another way. The Habs have a very large investment in PK Subban. That someone somewhere cares about the outcome of this tournament is not their concern.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
So that also applies to the Olympics then, right?
It’s of no value to the NHL teams if their assets are playing in another organization’s tournament…
Nice catch, Jim! Used to read Terry Jones when he wrote for the Edmonton Journal in the ’70s.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Czech Forward Tomas Hertl is next on our list
http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/04/30/nhl-draft-prospect-profile-25-tomas-hertl/
Go Habs Go!
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Big day in sports today, Manchester United vs. Manchester City, Yu Darvish night in Toronto and a couple of hockey games as well.
But will we have a new GM?
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I hope so. The anticipation is making me ill.
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“Can we lose the parade float?…..Thank you!”
-This Old House, GMC commerciall-
That is a actually a ticket i could go for, if I was back in TO,, Darvish is fun to watch pitch and Hamilton is fun to watch hit, Brett Lawrie is fun to watch play.
Flyers’ OT hero Daniel Brière speaks VULCAN to the media Sunday evening
Never met the man (Briere) but I don’t like him. Maybe its him not signing with the Habs or the flyer uniform. Not sure. But I don’t like him!
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Feel similar but boy the guy can play. Can take a hit too.
“May you live in interesting times.”
I feel the same way. Saying I don’t like him is putting it mildly.
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“Can we lose the parade float?…..Thank you!”
-This Old House, GMC commerciall-
I used to feel that way, mainly because he chose not to sign with us, but watching him every year in the playoffs has made me reverse my opinion. I can’t dislike him, and I would love to have him on our team. Besides, judging by events in the last few years, his decision to sign with the Flyers was the right one.
You can’t say that! If he, and the countless other UFAs, had signed here we may not have gotten to where we are now.
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“Can we lose the parade float?…..Thank you!”
-This Old House, GMC commerciall-
If we had signed Briere, we never would have traded for Gomez.
That sucks.
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He doesn’t have to. But where’s the angry media when a Quebec player turns down the Habs? Why is he not scrutinized by the same media that freak out if the Habs overlook a Quebecois player that’s available?
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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home